Switch-operating mechanism.



U. DOUGHERTY, G. F. JONES & D. CASE.

gWITGH OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 17.1913.

1 O97,97 1 Patented May 26,1914.

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CURTIS DOUGHERTY, CINCINNATI. OHIO. AND OHALZLES F. JQNES AND DANIEL M, CASE. Gi lLJilJKING'ZION. lfihlll'llliliiif.

Specification of Letters Eatent.

Patented May 265. it? t at.

Application filed May 17, 1313. Serial No. 768,205.

o jcct to produce an improved switch opcrating: inechaninn. which is simple in construetion and which overcomes disadvanll Ji. :iinl olijcciionalilc l lillllllh' ordinarily viii-oonlcrcl in llll|' llltillillllhll'h-Z lurlhcr ohjcrl i to produce a vswitch oporaling nicrhanisin which is rclialilc in operation and which may he eilertirclj. cinploycil in simultaneously throwing and then locking lioth switches of a cross-over.

.k further object is to produce a switch op rating and lockin; mechanism. in which means are employed for n'iaintaining a snhstantially constant. load on the operating lo- \'l'I' 1llll'll'l f,1' the operation oi the mechalll-lll.

'lhoc and other ol ierl are attain d m ol llll apparatus herein dcwiilual. anil illn-iralwl in the drawing llill llll llll l' inn and forming a part of this application.

in the drawings. Figure 1 is a traglncntal plan View of a cross-over provided with a switch-operating mechanism embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is a plan View of an emliodinicnl of our invention. the inclusion" casing lniligl' shown in wrciion along" the line .3 tot l 'igg', ll. Fig .i i a side lrrolion of tho nnclianisni shown in ll 1i',2llllll illusiralw the parts in lln positions they occupy when the witch i opcn llllll lockcil in ilw open position; the inclosing casing is shown in section along the line 3 3 oi Fig. Fig. i is a View corresponding to 3, and illustrates the positions of the parts 5 is a corresponding view showing the parts in the positions lhiw' occupy when {he H\\'lli'li is ilOStil. liili lllllui'liid, iiilil Fig. (i is a corrcspolnliin; view showing the posi tions of the parts. with the switch closed and locked in the closed positions.

The apparatus embodying our invention i motion oi tho linli'.

'equipped with standard interlocking (l0- vices and as illustrated in Figs. 2- to 6, inclusive, includes a switch point operating link 7. a lock lml operating link 8, and an operating shai'i 9. proi-ided with two operililllQ' cranks ll and IQ, which are respecll\'ll lllll l l'lil in actuating the links 7 and H. The cranks are localcil ninety (00) do grrecs apart and each crank is provided with a crank pin. which operatively connects one of the links to the shaft. The links are inclosed within a casing 13, and each link is suspended, or mounted upon the Walls of the casing by means of its connecting arms which project through oppositely localml apcrlnrcs formed in (hi-v casing, and cooperate with the apertures in guiding the The. orank shaft 9 is jmirnalcd in the asing and is provided with an operating lever ll which is located on the outside ol the asing. and is capalilo of turning the shaft through one hundred and ci ihtly (180} degrees and of thereby actuating the links so that they operate first to unlock the switch point, then to shift the point from one position to the other, and

' finally to lock the point in position nrtcr it haw licrli .illll li'll.

'ihc urit h oprralingg link 7 i tIllliHiHll' liallr ll'lllll 'l'lllill in r-1hapr and in provid il wilh a -lll).\l:lllil7lll triangular apcrlnro or slot l3. into which a crank pin ll3,1nount(d on the crank ll projects. and with which it (:HtiPOiiit'OS. The apex of the triangular slot notched out, so as to form a recess 17 whieh is snhstainially equal in Width to the ilian'icter ot the crank pin. The edges of the hlUi. which iUHhl'fQ'i' toward and terminate in lhe recess" 17. are rnrrcil. and thel'illilllS ol' llicir cnrrainrc is :oilx-lantially wplfll to (he radio; oilln' cir le lhron h which the onlci-inosl poinl oi' lhr rank pin nir'ives.

The link is so lllUlllllLll within the casing that the centers of curvature of the curved edges more in a line passing through the center of rotation of the shaft, when the link when the switch is unlocked. but open, Fig; i moved. and one curved edge or the other of the slot is moved. by the motion of the link. to a position ciniccntric with the shaft. (i ppositvir extending connecting: arms 19 are formed lllltfilllll) with the link 7 and are so located that they extend on a line with the centers, ot car More of the curved edges of the slot. These, connecting arms.

is adapted to be employed With switches i as has been said. project through opposill-tr lol'alwl a n'rlnrm l'ornnwl in lhe (n+ ing [$3. and llwrehy support tho link 'l' ainl ilflllllt its motion IlKlUt- H the easing in rosponw to the operation of the shaft 9. The lll l fil'llllll apertures aro no looatotl that the link mores horizontally, in response to the motion of the shatt. and the eranlc ll so llIUlllliWl on tho ha'tt that it IW'H'OS l' ron'i a horizontal po. itioo on one shit to n horizontal nwillon on the other siile of the eonter. hen the low-r H is thrown from one position to the othor. With this eons-trno lion the link T remains stationary (luring that portion of the motion of the crank in whit-h tho eranlt pin 16 moves along one. (illl'Vttl edge of the slot alnl into tho oxteneion l7, and it is then shifted from a position on one Sltlt of the center oi the (frank to t pmhion on the other. "whilo the 0 unit pin is in vngagoinonl will: the extension IT tllltl moving! in a snhstanliallr horizontal ail-mlion. The llllli T remains slationarr, after it ha sliii'ieil in: position. IHHl while the tlilllh pin mo es alongthe other CllIYNl wigs oi the h t. l nilrr thew t'UlHllllUllR the switeh point is shifted by the 0 'anlt, While the vranlc is moving: in a direction snhntan tially parollvl to the line of motion of the link. and tf ll'lStqllollllft', the power applied to the eranit-actuating lever l4 is:v most offectively tinnsinitteil to the switch point by the link.

The hiel; her operating link 8 is proviileil with a slot it). which snhstontiall r equal in length to twice the length of the link-- actuating" t'ranlt' l". mini the crank 12 is pro \iilwl with a era. .1 pin 21. which projects into anrl tlPiIHlO with the slot 19 in aetnairing the l'nlz. The end portions of the plot 19 l oqnal in mom to the i'lianioter of the p n :31 amt their wlf ra'.ight and on" total in'irziilel to the "the interi'nei'liate portion of the slot i-'- \Yltltllttl anti if; proritloil with tlll'Ytil oils: whii'h are of sub-- :naniially tho saint nrratnro HF; tho --ircinn- I l'ereni'e through \Yhirh the pin 21 moron while the rranl; i; tnrnoil from one position to the otheifl The linlt 5: is provitletl with ii'itoo'rallr t'ornnwl oppoeitol extending t'Oll-- netting" nrnn i whit-h are lor-alietl at on int rzneiliat point. with relation to the slot. li :Hitl extentl at right :inQ'lo; to the FlO'li. 'lho HIIIIH i as has heen Ftlltl, extonii through apertures 'llrmml in the casino l3 antl guide the motion of the link. The apex torus: are -:o lovaterl that the arm. extend lltilllrflii'tllljfl and vomeqnently. the slot 19 extenils \ortitalhr. the crank 12 no posiii n the shai't that it moves from a "at 3" i i 1 n one =i le oi the Center of i lltlfi to a vertical pmition l on the min;- 'ioe ot' the oenier. when the lever H i llllUfll from one extreme position to the other. During: the motion oi the crank 15?, a nil consequently of the crank pin 1 t e r,

ill. tho linh Fl is first shil'tml from a Position at, or n or, tho mnlor oi the shaft, to a position on one slide 01". the center, and then it is retrnrnerl to its cent al nusition. AS the pin 21 moves :t'rom one. end to the other of the slot 19 it passe? first through one entl P01" tion oi the slot. and thereby shifts the link lmrizontally to Filt'll a position, on one side of the center of the shaft that the center of enrr: ture of one of the curved edges of the xelot is oomontrie with the center of rotation ot' the shaft 9. The. pin then moves into the widened portion of the slot a lNl into engagement with one 01": the correct edges, but does not actuate the link as it; posse? along this edge. The link nioveil haul; to its central position by the passago of the pin 2i. through the other will portion of the shot, after it has tra\ r.-"=o l the nitlonerl portion of tho nlot.

'lho slots l5 :nnl 19 are so arrangmh with relation to their voijporating ei'a'nltn that the linlt 8 is first shifteil to ono side, of the r-ontor of the nhatt S), then the link 7 is: shifted from one to the other Ride ol tho Center of the shaft, and finally, the link 8 is returned to its central position during the motion of the shaft, oee: SlUIlQll hy thrrnving the lever Pl- ;t'rom one extreme position to the other. This nnloelis the switeln then Shiite it from one iitloeition to the other and then looks it.

in 1 no have F llt'WFl'] an emhotliment oi? our intention operatiroly eonneotocl to both oil. the S'n'lit'l'lQS oi. a crossover and adapted to sinniltnnoonsly nnloeli' hoth switehes sininltonetnisly throw them to Corrospontling positions, and then siinnltano "I lock them. l laeh e'Witt-h is provided with o pointootnating or switch roll 23. to is; onet-atirely oonneetetl by tion of the. ooking i'Otl whit-h extends through the hon 2 in nonnllr lt'PltUiLfHliU in i-ro wreetion anti i;- proriileil with two trenrerselr exttoni'lin upertnre v \Yllit'l] are spared apart :1 iii lllt'O oonal to the thro of the switch nointsz. and are ntlapte l to more nlternatr-l into roo'istor n'itl a trans rersely extei'ioing aperture harmed in the hex 28. A look har or pin 9-) projet'ts through an aperture in the ho}; antl is adapted to pane through one or the other oi the apertures formed in the rod 27 arnl to thei'ohy rigirlly loelt the lOt'l against mo tion, With relation to the hon. 'lhe liar or pin .tfl of one of the. swit hes ot' the. crossover in shown connected to the lltllt H menna ot' a rod ill, a lever Iii. and a r d Jill, \t'liHll In conne ted to ono of the connecting arms 25!. 'lhe lock her or pin oi the other switch is connected to the link by means of a similar system of levers and connect.- ing rods. so arranged that it is moved si mnltaneouslv with the other pin. .'\s the link 8 moves to one. side of the center of its operating shaft, it withdraws each of the pins 29 from engagement with their Coiiperating bar 27 and thereby unlocks both of the switches. As the link 7 is shifted from one side to the other of the operating shaft, it simultaru-ously shifts the points of each swit h and either opens or closes both the switches. .\s the link 5% is returned to its central position hv the liual motion of the lever 14. it moves both the pins :21) into lock iug engagement with their corresponding rods 27 and thereby locks both of the switches in the set position.

in addition to the fact that the mechanism illustrated is simpler than the ordinary forms of switch-iu'ierating mecluinisms known to us. it is also simpler to operate since the switch is unlocked, thrown, and relocked by a single motion of a single lever. The arrangement of the links is also such that they impart a greater amountof liuks. By materially lengthening the stroke of the link 9. and consequently the motion of the pins 39 over that necessary to lock the switches. we insure either the locking ot the switches or an indication that they are unlocked. since the motion of the link 8 is t o great to be taken up by yield in the system of rods and levers. in addition to this, the slots in the links are so proportioned that the force required to throw the lever 14 from one extreme position to the other is substantially constant throughout the motion of the lever. This results from the' t'act that the link 7 is stationary while the link 8 is in motion: that the lever 14 swings through a greater angle. while imparting motion to the switch pointoperating mechanism. than in most switch-operating devices now in use; and that the link 7 is actuated i by the pin 16. while the pin is moving in substantially the same direction as the link. The lever 14 can therefore be easily thrown the operation of the link 7 does not subject it. to a sudden jerk, nor is the lever 14 suddenly relieved of its load when the. link 7 is roleauod by tho pin Hi.

to the drawings we have shown means which may he employed in connecting either of the links to near or distant signals. As illustrated. each connecting arm of each link is provided with a lug 35, to which the signal-actuating rod may be connected. l t, will also be understood that the signal may be actuated from the switch points or from the lock bar, as is customary with such apparatus.

Another feature of our invention is that the links 7 and 8 are so constructed that. they may be reversed or inverted in position. without impairing the operation of the mechanism in which they are located. in addition to this. a straight. line motion is imparted to each link, and the link can consequently be so connected to the system of operating rods and levers, that this motion will he most etliciently transmitted to the switch.

in accordance with the United States patent statutes we have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of our invention, but We desire it to be understood that various changes, modifications and substitutions may be made in the device illustrated, without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention, as set forth byt lae appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. In a switch operating mechanism, a switch point actuating link having an operating slot formed therein, a lock bar actuating link having an operating slot formed therein. a crank shaft. and a separate crank pin. mounted on the shaft. For engaging each operating slot. said slots heiug so shaped that one link and then the other is actuated during the operation of the crank.

2. A switch operating mechanism com prising a switch point operating link having a pin engaging slot-formed therein, a locking device operating link having a pin engaging slot formed therein. a crank shaft .tor actuating both of said links. separate pins mounted on the crank shaft for engaging the slots in the separate links and for actuatin the links during the motion of the shaft, said slots being so formed that each pin is incapable of moving its cooperating link during a portion of its motion therethrough.

A switch operating mechanism comprising. a switch point operating link haviug a pin engaging slot formed therein, a locking device operating link having a pin engaging slot formed therein, a rotatably mounted crank shaft having two cranks by a uniform pull from the switchman, and l formed thereon, a separate pin mounted on each crank, for engaging a slot in each link. and a lever for turning the shalt in either direction through an angle of substautially one hundred and eighty degrees. the slots in said links being so formed that one link is stationary while the other link is moving and the switch point operating link is moved in a straight line substantially parallel to the direction of its actuating pin.

4. A switch operating mechanism comprising. a switch point operating link having a pin engaging slot formed therein and capable of moving in a straight line only, a lock mechanism operating link having a pin engaging slot formed therein, a crank shaft. and pins on said shaft for engaging the slots formed in the separate links, said slots being so formed that one link is moved while the other is stationary.

5. A switch operating mechanism comprising. a switch point operating link, capable of moving in a straight line only and having a pin engaging slot formed therein. a lock har operating link, capable of moving in a straight line only and having a pin eugaging slot formed therein. a crank shaft for actuating said links and pins mounted on the crank shall for engaging the slots formed in the links, said slots being so formed that the lock bar operating link is shifted while the switch point operating link is stationary, and thalrthe switch point operating link is shifted while the lock bar operating link is stationary.

t"). In a switch operating mechanism, a switch-point actuating link, av lock-bar actuating link parallel to the switch-point actuating link. and a shaft adapted successively to impart longitudinal movements to the lock-har actuating link, the switchpoint actuating link, and then the lock-bar actuating link, when it is turned from one position to the other.

T. In a switch operating mechanism, a switch-point actuating link, a loek-har at touting link parallel to tho switchpoint aoluating link, rods at each of the ends of the switch-point actuating link and of the lock-bar actuating link, adapted to connect the switch-operating mechanism with both of the switches of a cross-over, and a shaft for successively imparting longitudinal movements to the lock-bar actuating link, the switch-point actuating link, and then the lock-bar actuating link, whereby when it turned from one position to the other, both the switches are first unlocked, then both switches are actuated, and then both switches are again locked.

Tn testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 12th day of May,

CURTIS DOUGHERTY. Witnesses:

I). I I)IUH(OLL, J. V. Barax'r.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto suhserihetl my name this It day of May,

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 12th clay of May, 1913.

DANIEL M. CASE. l'litnesses E. W. l\lo( /mms'ri:n, WV. THORNTON Boosm.

Gupta! 0! this patent may be obtuined for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

